Immunological methods for diagnosing neurocysticercosis

Abstract

Immunological methods are disclosed for diagnosing active human neurocysticercosis, including a serum test and a cerebrospinal fluid test. The serum test involves detecting an antibody in serum which recognizes at least one of three particular antigens isolated from Taenia solium larvae. The cerebrospinal fluid test involves detecting an antigen or antigens of larval origin, preferably by an ELISA technique.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A method for diagnosing active human neurocysticercosis by detecting the presence of at least one Taenia solium larval antigen in cererospinal fluid, which comprises: contacting cerebrospinal fluid from a human to be diagnosed with a solid support, wherein said support binds with a Taenia solium larval antigen if present,   contacting said support with a first antibody, wherein said first antibody binds with a larval Taenia solium antigen if present in said cerebrospinal fluid,   contacting said solid support with a detectable second antibody which will bind with said first antibody, and   detecting said second antibody bound to said support.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, wherein said antibody is part of an anti-serum. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1, wherein said antiserum is prepared by immunizing an animal with a crude extract of Taenia solium larvae. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1, wherein said contacting and detecting is carried out on a nitrocellulose disc. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1, wherein said detectable second antibody is peroxidase-labeled goat anti-rabbit anti-serum. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5, wherein said peroxidase-labeled anti-serum is detected with ophenylene diamine or other peroxidase substrates. 
     
     
       7. A kit for diagnosis of human neurocysticercosis by detecting the presence of at least one Taenia solium larval antigen in cerebrospinal fluid, which comprises: a housing which accomodates a plurality of nitrocellulose or cellulose acetate discs, wherein one disc has coated thereon a Taenia solium larval antigen,   a first container of a mammalian anti-larval antibody against a Taenia solium larval antigen, and   a second container of a second antibody reactive with said mammalian anti-larval antibody, said second antibody having conjugated thereto a detectable group.   
     
     
       8. The kit of claim 7, wherein said mammalian anti-larval antibody is rabbit anti-larval anti-serum. 
     
     
       9. The kit of claim 7, wherein said second antibody which is conjugated to a detectable group is peroxidase-labeled goat anti-rabbit anti-serum, and said kit further comprises a third container of a peroxidase substrate. 
     
     
       10. A method for diagnosing active human neurocysticercosis by detecting the presence of at least one Taenia solium larval antigen in cerebrospinal fluid, which comprises: contacting cerbrospinal fluid from a human to be diagnosed with a solid support, wherein said support binds with a single Taenia solium larval antigen if present in cerebrospinal fluid,   contacting said support with a first antibody, wherein said first antibody binds with said antigen, and wherein said first antibody is conjugated with at least one biotin molecule, and   contacting said support with avidin which is conjugated to a detectable group, and   detecting said detectable group bound to said support.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10, wherein said detectable group is peroxidase and said detecting is carried out with a peroxidase substrate. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11, wherein said substrate is 4-chloro-1-naphthol or other peroxidase substrates.